When Opportunity Hits You in the Face
Amidst a week in a Writer's Room that came out of nowhere
Hello to you all. It’s Tuesday night, this will be out tomorrow morning and I’m right at the start of this post, literally typing these words in the order you’re reading them1, because there’s been a lot going on.
Thanks to this post from the Edinburgh Laughter Bulletin
and specifically the interview with Amanda Dwyer, I heard about a new show in Edinburgh that sounded like my kind of thing - a monthly collaborative sketch comedy night called Story Platform, written and produced in the week running up to the show2.
When I was first attempting to research (Google) I didn’t even find that link, all I got to was the EventBrite page, and I sent an email there to ask for more info. I asked what the show was and whether they were open to collaborators, in a fit of grabbing life by the email. I explained who I am, or more relevantly to the world of comedy who I used to be and hope to be again. I was also uncharacteristically forward in suggesting a video call or meet up with the producer when I couldn’t come to the March show (there was a whole Denmark/Lego/40th birthday thing going on), and after a lovely 30 minute coffee and chat, we left it at coming to the April show to find out more.
Until, almost a exactly a week ago from the release of this very post, I received an email asking if I was available this week to be part of the team for a week of paid writing, developing and performing in a live show at the Traverse. I sat in stunned silence for a few minutes, forwarded the email to my wife and said “What the hell do I do?” as I have a full-time day job and a comfy routine.
So being a new man who can restrict being flummoxed to much shorter periods of time, and thanks to an ever-supportive wife, I arranged the time-off work3 and waited at a bus stop on Monday morning for the first time in five and a bit years.
I am literally 40% of the way through this crazy week, and will be performing material written entirely this week, live on a stage at 7pm on Friday evening, a space both physical and mental I have not been for a good long time. You can likely imagine the imposter syndrome and self-doubt that chewed me up from the second I received that email, because all of the other collaborators are established writers and performers with current and ongoing success. I’m just a chancer who had a friendly coffee with a passionate producer. I was able to rationalise the doubts by remembering that every single person I’ve ever met in the arts feels the same, and have tried very hard to enjoy whatever this wild ride is going to be for this week.
It has helped immensely that the whole team are genuine collaborators, looking to create a fun show together, because that’s the team that Jemma Rodgers has built. And I’m there and part of that team for at least one glorious week.
If you’re in Edinburgh and interested in coming along, it is free and details are here - Story Platform April 2025
This Week’s Notebook
A loosening up exercise based on another lovely alumni from Joel Morris’ Writer’s Room Course, Claudia Custodio, and this post in particular (she writes in Portuguese, but such are the wonders of Google Translate, it is no longer a complete barrier, excepting the obvious loss of nuance in any except the best translations).
For context, I completed these phrases immediately after writing the above words about Story Platform, at 8.35pm on Tuesday 22nd April 2025.
14 Phrases about…
Writing exercise: write 14 sentences without taking more than a minute per sentence, or thinking too much about the subject.
Write a sentence about an animal.
The dragon feared that his flame might have gone out, but it was merely lurking, awaiting a spark.
Write a sentence about an inanimate object.
When a toenail has left your sight, and isn’t still clinging on to the clipper as many tricky ones do, it becomes a reminder that we all leave something behind.
Write a sentence about how you feel right now.
There are always ways to be more tired than you were yesterday.
Write a boring sentence (it might be harder than you think).
I am forty years old, and have told most people I know.
Write a sentence that begins with a proper noun.
Henry loved to slice grapes because it could almost be an eyeball.
Write a sentence about the weather.
Isn’t it funny or not funny how great or bad the weather has been or hasn’t this past minute?
Write a sentence about a place.
The room we were all in could probably do with a window open.
Write a sentence about a habit.
It’s very important to ensure that your rings are properly oriented on your fingers, otherwise how could anything good possibly happen.
Write a sentence about yourself.
I think we’ve all had more than enough of that in this post.
Write a sentence that begins with a swear word.
Turd is vastly underrated as a low-key swear that it wouldn’t matter as much if your young children picked up4.
Write a sentence about water.
Water tablets can help swelling in your legs, but they make you pee, up to 9 times in a single morning5.
Write a sentence about love.
It is entirely possible to love something deeply, and also know that it’s time to move on.
Write a sentence starting with: “How is it that…”
How is it that time of night already, I’ve got the Daredevil finale to watch!
Write a sentence about a season of the year.
Summer can do one, no-one needs that much pollen in their lives (yes, I know, the world probably does).
Televigion Update
Watching
Austin S1 Ep 1 (iPlayer) - A new Australian sitcom recently on the BBC, about an autistic man who contacts his father, an author who is undergoing a social media cancellation. I had heard good things, and am delighted with the good intentions and heart-warming story behind creating the show, as described in this article with co-creator Darren Ashton. But I’m not fully convinced. It’s gentle and warm and has some funny lines, but I certainly don’t like the characters played by Ben Miller (the father) or Sally Phillips (his wife) after the two episodes I’ve watched. Michael Theo playing the lead character Austin is a fantastic presence, but I’m not yet sure his newly discovered family are worth investing in.
Black Mirror Season 7 (Netflix) - The Televigion Wife and I have now completed the series. My favourites were Bete Noire (lean and mean, and funny) and USS Callister: Into Infinity (expanding the conceit, making clear points about toxic men and VERY funny). Plaything was a fun little confection of exactly the right length. But Common People, Hotel Reverie, and Eulogy did very little for me personally. I felt that Common People and Eulogy had interesting premises and nowhere interesting to take them.
Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 2: Lux (iPlayer) - Wow! This was a very fun episode of Doctor Who, which I guess counts as the unexpected sequel that RTD teased. The visual invention and ambition of this episode was wonderful. And the transformation of the villain towards the end was deliciously creepy. But I’m a little sad that new companion Belinda Chandra seems quite on board with travelling with the Doctor so quickly after the potential for spikiness in episode 1. I suppose a reluctant companion could get old quite quickly.
Intending to Consume
Andor Season 2 (Disney+) - Due for release on Wednesday 23rd April6, the very highly anticipated second season of the best thing Star Wars has done in a very long time7. I will be watching, just when I’m not quite so busy/preoccupied.
Questions/Prompts
When did an email last lead to something exciting for you?
Footnotes
Except of course, my usual footnote nonsense and the potential of a readover later, if wakefulness allows.
Like a certain show that is broadcast on a specific weekend night, from a major city on the East Coast of the US, and which is not primarily pre-recorded.
The first day of this comedy work was Easter Monday, in a little example of fate doing a cheeky grin at the time off I needed to take.
Children picking up turd is now firmly in your head, I hope.
Overheard at the bus stop this morning.
Today, future boys and girls!
I’m tempted to say ever, but obviously it couldn’t exist without almost everything that came before it, whether expanding, ignoring or improving on them.
Absolutely love the footnotes. Grapes will never taste the same for me though.
This sounds amazing!!